Religious Sister – (1901-1941)
Her life
+ Liduina was born to a poor family in Abano Terme, Italy. She was a pious child and people remembered her attendance at daily Mass, her spirit of prayer, and her service as a catechist for younger children.
+ At the age of 14, Liduina began to work as a servant in the homes of local families and in hotels in the region.
+ On March 5, 1926, she entered the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales.
+ For several years, Sister Liduina served her community as housekeeper, sacristan, and nurse in their boarding school in Santa Croce.
+ In 1937, Sister Liduina was sent to her community’s mission in Dire-Dawa, Ethiopia, serving people of many backgrounds, races, and religions. Her primary ministry was as nurse in the Parini Civil Hosptial, first with civilians, and, later, soldiers fighting in the First World War.
+ When Dire-Dawa was bombed during the war, Sister Liduina carried the wounded to shelter, baptized dying children, and helped lead the dying Christians through the Act of Contrition.
+ Blessed Liduina died of cancer on December 2, 1941. She was beatified in 2002.
Spiritual bonus
This year, December 2 marks the end of the Church Year and a new year of grace begins at sundown today, with First Vespers of the First Sunday of Advent. The United States Bishops are once again offering a variety of resources for Advent and Christmas for families and parishes. To learn more, visit: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/advent/index.cfm
Quote
Then the king will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’
—Matthew 25:34-39
Prayer
O God, who called blessed Liduina to seek your Kingdom in this world through the pursuit of perfect charity, grant, we pray, through her intercession that we may advance with joyful spirit along the way of love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For a Religious)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...